Binding for stacks of paper or the like



Dec. 25, 1934. s. GROENER 1,985,776

BINDING FOR STACKS OF PAPER OR THE LIKE Filed Jline 6, 1953 INVENTOR 52:. mil @roe 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 25, 1934 nmnme ron. s'racxs or raven on. THE

Samuel Groen er, l 'arls, France, aaalgnor to Frank Amato, New York, N. .Y.

Application June 0,1933, Serial No. 674,498

3 Claims. 281-25) This invention relates in general to a binding for stacks of paper or the like, and in a particular application thereof to the assembly of such a stack in convenient form, such as book form, so

that the elements constituting the stack will be available for manipulation and inspection without becoming disassociated. While my invention has been described in connection with the assembly of stacks of paper or the like, it is to be understood that as to certain phases thereof, it may have other applications.

Bindings employing helical binding elements as heretofore constructed, when used for bindings intended to permanently associate the stack of material have had the drawback that the binding element become readily disassociated from the stack, because no provision was made for retaining the binding element in place against undesired displacement, and particularly against accidental displacement.

It is one of the objectsof my invention to pro,- vide simple means to prevent the undesired disassociation of a helical binding element from a bound stack. g i

It is 'a further object of my invention to provide such means for preventing disassociation as will interfere as little as possible with manipulation of the elements of the stack and prevent jury to the stack and to the user.

For the attainment of these objects and such other objects as will hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have disclosed certain embodiments of my invention in the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a stack of paper sheets associated by a helical binding element into book form; the stack being shown separated into two portions by being opened in the middle;

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the helical binding element of Figure 1 showing in particular the means for preventing disassociation thereof from the stack;

Figure 4 is a side view of the same;

Figures 5, 6 and 'l are end views, each respec- 'tively of a different modification of the disassociation preventing means appliedto a helical element; and

Figures 8 and 9 are end views of helical elements such as shown in Figure l in a position of use and illustrating certain requirements that the disassociation preventing means must meet in order to perform its functions efilciently.

when it is attempted to bind a stack of sheeted material by means of-a helical binding element, it is customary to thread the hence! element through a series of uniformly spaced aligned holes applied near one edge of the stack of material. These holes must bear such a relation to the binding element that it may pass through them as a screw passes into the threads of a nut 5 intended to receive it. In other words, the perforations must be spaced to correspond with the coils of the helix. Such a helical element may be removed from the stack by unthreading it, that is, by turning it in a direction reverse to that in 10 which it was turned when threading it.

If, however, an obstruction is applied to the helix which will hinder or prevent its passage through the perforations, such removal may be prevented. One way of accomplishing this is by deforminga portion of the helix itself. For example, if such a portion is deformed out of its normal helical contour, an obstruction to its free passage through the holes may be formed, which may result either in making withdrawal or in- 20 sertion diflicult or may result in totally obstructing such withdrawal or insertion. My improvement relates particularly to disassociation preventing means for completely preventing withdrawal. Recalling that a helix is formed by the uniform longitudinal and angular progression of a point along the surface of a cylinder, it will be observed that interruption of the helical path may be effected either by interrupting the uniformityof progression of the helix generating point along 30 the cylindrical surface, or .by causing said point to move inwardly or outwardly of the cylindrical surface. My invention in one of its forms contemplates the distortion of a portion of one of the coils of a helix inwardly out of the cylindri- 35 cal surface, but without substantial distortion thereof out of the plane of the distorted portion as it was before deformation, and in addition contemplates distorting said portion in such a way that the free end will be disposed so as not to m- 40 lure the stack or the user, and furthermore, contemplates making such deformed portion of such a' character that it will not be able to pass through the helix-receiving perforations, no matter what the position which the helix may assume in relation to the stack. I

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I show in Figure 1, at 12, a. stack of paper having perforations 13 which are aligned so as to permit the introduction thereinto of a helical element 14 and this stack is shown as opened so as to exhibit two portions joined by the element'14. In practice I have found it convenient to use a spiral spring of steel wire, but,it-is obvious that other seems would also be suitable.

In order to prevent withdrawal of the helix, once it is in place, I may provide either at one end or at both ends of the helix, an obstruction formed from the material of the helix itself, which may be a loop 16 such as is most simply formed. by bending the material of the helix at 18. The free end 20 is brought to lie adjacent the cylindrical surface of the helix as shown in Figure 3, so as to be out of the way, and thereby preventing injury to the stack and the user and the loop as a whole lies in the plane of the original (foil from which it was formed as indicated by the-line X-X of Figure 4.

When only one obstruction is to be used it is obvious that it must be formed in relation to the perforations 13 so that on turning the helix either way the obstruction will engage walls of the stack and further turning will be prevented. If both ends of the coil extend beyond the stack an obstruction must be formed at both ends, otherwise the helix may be removed by turning it in one direction.

Figure 5 shows a modification in which a loop 26 substantially circular in form is formed on the end of the helix 24 and its free end 28 is brought into contact with the helix itself.

A'further modification is shown in Figure 6 in which the helix 34 is bent into a loop approaching a triangular form by bending at points 36 and 38, and the free end 39 is brought adjacent the undistorted portion of the helix.

-In Figure 7 the helix 44 is shown as provided at 46 with a rectangular bend and with a reverse bend at 48 so as to form a flattened loop extending inwardly toward the axis of the helix. The free end 49 is adjacent the undeformed coil of the helix. It will be observed that the free end 49 is thereby shielded so that it is prevented from ,tearing or otherwise damaging the stack, and

further, that the fiat side of the loop forms an abutment positioned, transversely across the stack, whereby there is no wedging action, as for instance in the form of Fig. 9, tending to permit an entry of the loop into the perforation, and tearing and deforming the walls of the perforation. Instead the comparatively great extent of the perforations in the and the dimension A the loop and its transverse positioning afford security against any damage reasonably to be apprehended.

Figures 8 and 9 are intended to illustrate a necessary relation which must exist between the dimensions of the disassociation preventing loops, stack of sheets, and the stack.

In Figure 8 is shown a relatively high stack 12 having openings 13. A terminal loop 16 is shown as formed on the helix 14. If it is attempted to remove the helix by causing the loop to move downward, that is, perpendicularly to the stack, it is found impossible to do so because the loop cannot pass into the perforation 13. The dimension B, indicates the actual diameter of the hole, indicates the diameter that the hole would have to have in order to permit the loop 16 to pass through it by motions perpendicular to the stack. It will be obvious that so long as A exceeds B, the loop cannot pass through the hole 13. In Figure 9 the diameter of the helix 14 is relatively great compared to the height of the stack 12 so that the elongated loop 16 will tend to pass through the hole 13 almost in endwise relation. In Figure 9, D represents the diameter of the hole, 13, and C represents the. diameter the hole would have to have to permit the loop to pass through it. As long as C exceeds D the loop cannot pass through the hole in the position indicated.

In Figures 8 and 9, for the sake of simplicity of demonstration, it has been assumed that the loop is caused to move perpendicularly to the stack. If in Figure 8 the coil is moved in a helical path, it will be obvious that, as illustrated, it may enter the opening 13. To provide against this, it is only necessary to enlarge the diameter of the coil in a direction radial to theaxis of the coil so that the edge of the opening with which the loop' engages will present an obstruction to its passage.

By making the same provision in regard to all the other diameters and positions of the loop, a loop may be formed which cannot pass through the perforation in any of the positions in which it will be presented to the mouth of the openings 13.

In Figures 8 and 9, in order to simplify the explanation, the stacks have been shown with all the sheets in vertical alignment so that the perforations 13 form straight holes. It is obvious however that the sheets of the stack may slide laterally in relation to each other with the result that the holes will not be straight.

For instance, in Figure 8 the middle sheets of the stack 12 might slide to the left, thus permitting the left hand portion of the helix to move to the left and also permitting the loop to move to the left and into 13, if the dimensions are as shown in the. figure. It is therefore to be understood that allowance must be made for the lateral shifting of the sheetsof the stack, and the relative dimensions of the perforations and the loop must be altered accordingly.

My invention has been illustrated in connection with loop arrangements in which the loop lies substantially in the plane of the coils of the helix, but it will be obvious that the same may be obtained by disposing the loop in other planes.

It is to be understood that the disclosure of my invention herein contained is illustrative only, and that my invention may be embodied in many other forms and relations, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and that it .is not to be limited in any other way than as defined in the claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a plurality of sheets of material in stack formation, a plurality oi uniformly spaced, aligned perforations therein, a helical binding element passing through said perforations, and means associated with said binding element to prevent accidental withdrawal thereof from said perforations, said means comprising a portion of the helix deformed from its normal contour so as 'to extend inwardly toward the axis of the helix and leaving its terminal portion extending in the reverse direotior outwardly from the axis of helix to the circumference thereof, and the said deformed portions forming a closed loop having its free end in contact with the face of the first mentioned portion.

2. In combination, a plurality of sheets of material in stack formation, a plurality of uniformly spaced, aligned perforations therein, a helical binding element passing through said perforations, and means associated with said binding element to prevent accidental withdrawal thereof from said perforations, said means comprising a portion of the helix deformed from its normal contour so as to form an elongated loop disposed a p imaavve' 7 l 3 transverselyto the path of the hen: at its point acts, and means associated with said binding of juncture therewith and extending for a sub-. element to prevent accidental withdrawal therebinding element passing through said perforastantial distance inward from the". helix toward of from said perforations, said means comprising its axis. p s a portion of the helix deformed from its normal 3. In combination, a plurality of sheets of macontour so as to extend radially inward from the terial in stack formation, a plurality of uniformly helix to its axis, and having its terminal portion spaced, aligned perforations therein, a helical disposed in adjacency to an inner portion thereof.

' SAMUEL GROENER. 

